Pembroke man charged with heroin trafficking

Police say they seized more than 30 grams of heroin from Paul Castanha's Johnson Street home.

PEMBROKE - Police say a Pembroke man being investigated for heroin trafficking crashed into two cars as he tried to escape police Thursday evening.

Paul D. Castanha, 24, of 21 Johnson St., Pembroke, was arrested and charged with heroin trafficking and possession of heroin with intent to distribute. He was expected to be arraigned in Plymouth District Court on Thursday.

Pembroke police said investigators with the Old Colony Police Anti-Crime Task Force tried to stop Castanha's car on Wampatuck Street on Wednesday evening after receiving a warrant to search it. Police said Castanha backed up into an unmarked police cruiser and crashed into a civilian's vehicle while trying to escape police.

After removing Castanha from his car and arresting him, detectives went to his home on Johnson Street with a second search warrant and seized more than 30 grams of heroin, a digital scale, packaging materials, drug ledgers and other evidence of drug distribution, police said.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.